The EASIEST way To Sidechain In FL Studio!

This tutorial will show you how to sidechain in FL Studio the easy way. There are many ways to sidechain in FL Studio. Typically, this will be done with a compressor and a trigger, or by using midi triggering. However, this can be more time consuming to set up, and for simple four to the floor beats, a simple sidechain plugin will usually give the same result much quicker. FL Studio has a built-in plugin called grossbeat, which can do this with a few simple clicks. This is easy to set up and use. Just load the plugin in FL Studio, select sidechain and then adjust the curves to your liking. Sidechaining will typically be used on bass sounds to ensure that the kick can cut through the mix without interference. However, in modern music sidechaining will also often be used on just about anything more like a rhythmic effect too.
This is by far the easiest and fastest way to set up and use sidechaining in FL Studio.
Sidechaining is used all the time in all kinds of genres. Typically this is done with a sidechain trigger and a compressor / limiter to affect the volume ducking. But there are ways to "cheat" so to speak, by using plugins that automate the volume. In this tutorial we're going to be using the Gross beat plugin from Image-line to accomplish a sidechain effect.
Note: If you have the signature edition (or above) of FL studio then this plugin will be included. If you don't have it, you can buy it as a single plugin from Image-Line: www.image-line.com
If you don't know what sidechaining is, check out my "what is sidechaining?" video here: • Sidechaining Explained...
Make sure to check out my other videos about sidechaining in FL Studio:
Sidechaining explained: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bqRF...
The easiest way to sidechain in FL Studio: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DnwY...
5 ways to sidechain in FL Studio: www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3cjh...
How to sidechain using an EQ: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXaJ3...
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✔️ VST & Effect Plugins: pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=5d496680b59cd ✔️ Premium Loops And Sample Packs: www.loopmasters.com/?a_aid=5d496680b59cd ❤️ Support this channel on Patreon: www.patreon.com/firewalkmusic ❤️ Support us with a one-time PayPal donation: www.paypal.me/firewalkmusic ⚠️ Do you need professional feedback on your track? Mixing or mastering? Check out my gigs on Fiverr: www.fiverr.com/firewalk

[@mukifiliodann9035]

Dude ... u literally make me feel happy, i am not joking ... if u know that feeling inside your chest raising and flying inside you, then u understand that i am serious xD

[@FireWalkMusic]

I take it you liked the video then, that's great! :)

[@marciojunior9266]

So simple, and so amazing!!

[@kyoji_theDj]

Woooow after watching your video i instantly subscribed. very easy to understand by faaaar the clearest fl studio tutorials ever! Thank you soooo much.

[@FireWalkMusic]

Glad you liked it :)

[@alessandrog5261]

Subscribed! Thanks more like this straight to the point

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks, glad you liked it. 😀

[@PrettyLady7282]

i'm glad to find out this channel, thanks!

[@FireWalkMusic]

Glad to hear it, you're welcome :)

[@sofarsohood_]

Another great tutorial, thanks again!!

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks, much appreciated :)

[@Pusemie]

Awesome! Very useful :-)

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks! 😀

[@davelang4329]

brill video as usual &to the point....

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks, glad you found it useful :)

[@djbaksbeats1064]

Thanks a lot, really appreciate

[@FireWalkMusic]

you're welcome :)

[@godmusic8389]

Superb video thank you

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks :)

[@Trackmasterbeatz]

Good Video... Thank You!

[@FireWalkMusic]

You're welcome

[@sandorzador2802]

Well i used the older method such as manual volume automation or sidechain linked to the master mixer. Thanks

[@FireWalkMusic]

You're welcome :)

[@HellFireno88]

Great! Thanks! :-)

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks! np :)

[@CB-od5dy]

Thank you!

[@FireWalkMusic]

You're welcome :)

[@jackaustin2487]

wooo it'S helpful for me! : O : )

[@FireWalkMusic]

Glad to hear it :D

[@the-blocks]

Thank you so much oml

[@FireWalkMusic]

You're welcome :)

[@johnnyanko6051]

Thanks! :)

[@FireWalkMusic]

you're welcome. 😊

[@alessandrog5261]

I’d like to watch a video about how to write after a melody the corresponding harmonies, bass line, chords etc.. in the fastest but theorical way possibile. Not just “at ear” as many do. Thanks

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks,, I'll put it on my list :)

[@Boboman-cp1vz]

thx took ages to do this for me

[@FireWalkMusic]

You're welcome :)

[@yourunemployedfriendat2pm]

It sounds like you make trance :D

[@FireWalkMusic]

Indeed 😎

[@CuteCute-gb5ml]

@@FireWalkMusic pls do a tutorial on how to make trance. I'm want to make trance but idk how to do it 😔😔😔

[@FireWalkMusic]

@@CuteCute-gb5ml I already have several tutorials about trance music, like how to make trance bass lines etc. I have even more trance related videos planned :)

[@CuteCute-gb5ml]

@@FireWalkMusic ohhh. Ok. Thank you.I'm a new beginner producer and also I'm new to this channel.I didn't know you already have videos about trance. I'll watch those. Your contents are really amazing. I've seen only 2 videos of yours and already in love with your channel. Keep up with the good work man !God bless you .😊😊😊😊😊

[@robfu3208]

THANK YOU BRO! The internet is beautiful, $100,000 music production degree versus solo research and ambition

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks :)

[@Crystalball218]

Could you please do an in depth Sample chopping tutorial?

[@FireWalkMusic]

Hi there. I already have a tutorial about how to work with samples. It covers how to chop up samples, how to stretch and match samples to the beat, how to "warp" samples kind of like in Ableton and more. You can find it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGi2dYqmiNBknpY I hope you will find it helpful. If not, let me know and I'll try to make more sample chopping related tutorials. :)

[@CasamTheAnimator]

But a quarter note sidechain is also useful for adding pumping effect which adds more rhythm and movement and energy.

[@JayVucci]

Where did you insert that device?

[@TheGreatestDarn]

i have a question: which form of sidechaining is better? this or the compressor one? I want to experiment with sidechainining but idk what will be the most...''preferable'' way to do a better track, outside if it's easy or not

[@FireWalkMusic]

It doesn't really matter. They all do the same thing, which is ducking the volume. You can sculpt the sidechaining using plugins such as LFOtool or Grossbeat, or you can use a trigger and a compressor to do the same thing. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. If you're doing anything other than a four to the floor kind of beat, or if you're trying to do some more advanced sidechaining to bring out your leads for example, then the old school way is your best bet. I just made a video showing this advanced sidechaining technique for leads: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHSte6mFaJiSoqs

[@Kossagubben]

yee boi!

[@FireWalkMusic]

:D

[@andreyvstaroselskiy]

Note to all - this plugin is currently Trial Version ONLY in the Producer edition.

[@gigigogo7634]

how to put permanently the sidechain in the bottom? Like in your other videos

[@FireWalkMusic]

If you mean sidechaining just the low frequencies, then check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qonEe2aFZcd9hLc

[@ImJesusReborn]

can you do parallel compression in fl studio 12

[@FireWalkMusic]

yes, absolutely. That's easy to set up in fl studio. 😊

[@gbxmusicchannel3836]

This deserves a nobel prize. Can't wait to try it out :)

[@FireWalkMusic]

Glad you liked it :)

[@Beats_and_Shades]

i have a question. if i send a track for professional mixing and mastering, does the audio engineer do the sidechain ? also what about volume automations ? because if you export all the tracks you wont be able to have sidechaining and volume automations right ?

[@FireWalkMusic]

Automation will be present after export. Regarding sidechaining, it depends. If you have it sidechained perfectly the way you want, you can send it in like that. Otherwice, if you don't really know what you're doing and prefer the mix engineer to do it for you, then just send the raw files with no siechaining and say you want it done.

[@Beats_and_Shades]

FireWalk ok thank you for the answer! There are a lot of different types of sidechain, I mean curve wise etc.. how should i tell an engineer what type i want exactly ? Or will they just do a general one ? And do they apply it just to the bass or do i have to tell them all the elements i want to have sidechained ? Thanks for your reply it helps me a lot 🙏

[@FireWalkMusic]

If you know exactly what type you want, then just leave it in there. Othervice the engineer will usually apply whatever sidechain he deams neccecary in order to get a clean sounding mix. Remember: Sidechain is something that' usually used for cleaning up a mix. In a lot of EDM though it's quite overdone and is part of the overall sound itself. Like in Alan Walker's trakcs for example, the sidechain is quite excessive, and it's part of how that kind of music sounds. So if you want something like that, then just leave the stems like that. I think most people these days use LFO's like lfotool, kickstart etc. But there's still situations where traditional sidechain with a trigger and compressor is preferable.

[@Beats_and_Shades]

FireWalk ok thanks for your answer!! Really helpful! I keep on asking things, so if you want me to stop just shut me down haha 😄 i am into producing like chilled deep house / electronica kinda vibes like bedouin, gab rhome, NU those kinda artists.. i just realised that i really enjoy composing tracks but do not have time to learn all the mixing and mastering side of it.. so what i would like to make is a track with just some effects like delay on the drums and some distortion in the bass etc.. do you think i could give an engineer a version with effects on and a version without anything and then he can hear my vision of the song ? Do you think that is a good idea ? What is your take on that ? Because if i make a track that i really like and then send it without any effects to mixing and mastering and it has nothing anymore in it of what i wanted it to sound like, it kind of takes away all the creativity i put into it no ? Do you have a suggestion on how i can keep my track as original as possible for the engineer to understand ? Thanks so much for your help !!! 👏👏👏

[@FireWalkMusic]

Yes, it's always good practice to send a version that you mixed yourself, that way he'll be able to hear what you were going for. Even if you didn't quite nail the mix, he'll know what you tried to do. Just make sure to label everything really well so that there's no confusion. This goes for stems as well. If you have some stems that you're happy with, then you can export both the dry and wet ones so that he or she will be able to hear what you were going for. I have a video here about how to make a remix pack, most of this also applies when exporting files for mixing and mastering: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnnOhqeYaqyGgtE

[@AsherPetersonAGP]

but gross beat only comes with signature edition rip

[@FireWalkMusic]

I know. But the signature edition is worth it, as you also get Maximus etc.

[@rawbooming2351]

Piano roll tutorial? Please

[@FireWalkMusic]

Sure, this is already on my list of things to do :)

[@MrNotYet1]

why did you use sidechaining here? it sounded awesome before the sidechain

[@FireWalkMusic]

Hey, the only purpose of this video was to show the sidechain technique. The easiest way to do that is to use a pad so that the result becomes apparent. :) Try to imagine that there's a kick, bass, vocals and a lot of other elements going on at the same time: In that case you need to sidechain to make room for everything. Especially pads, because pads take up a huge amount of space in a mix. When they are played alone you don't need to sidechain them, unless you want to use the sidechain as an effect, to maintain some rhythm during a break for example.

[@MrNotYet1]

ok thx

[@FireWalkMusic]

Np :)

[@dylanreedy6816]

@@MrNotYet1 lol hahaha bro that was some sly sarcasm right? either way it was hilarious lmao

[@marcus_ohreallyus]

I'm a little lost...when you played it the first time it sounds good. The "sidechaining" just gives it a warping effect that sounds weird, unless that's the effect you're after. I'm confused. I understand the concept of one frequency needing to duck for a similar frequency, but what you did doesn't sound like any kind of improvement.

[@FireWalkMusic]

Hi, that's because it's played without anything else in the mix. So it doesn't sound like an improvement. However, many frequencies will inevitably overlap in a busy mix with leads, bass, percussion, vocals and other elements. That's why producers always use sidechaining to help these element "duck" when the kick comes in, so that the kick can cut through clearly in the mix. When it does, it will overpower the other elements, and you won't notice that this ducking effect is even there (when done right). It is also possible to use plugins like LFOtool, Kickstart etc, or even stock FL plugins to duck only the low frequencies. You could then duck only the frequencies below 500 Hz or example, every time the kick hits. It's just to make room in the mix really, and help the kick to cut through without having to fight for space in the mix. Other times, this sidechain effect is used to create that "pumping" that you'll tend to hear from songs by Alan Walker for example, where the synths have this effect constantly. In those cases, it's a rhythmic decision, and not just as a means to clean up the mix.

[@marcus_ohreallyus]

@@FireWalkMusic okay makes sense. I probably would have understood better with that kick in the mix

[@FireWalkMusic]

@@marcus_ohreallyus Indeed, this video is just a "quick" tip video intended to show the fastest way to apply quick volume ducking, or "sidechaining" in FL Studio. I have another, more useful video explaining what sidechaining really is and why we need it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5PUg3mbjdiYmqcsi=Ul4lOVpOWqELXIPQ

[@skygazer3696]

My 6th video of your channel

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks! :)

[@tribootofficial5956]

Here ill tell you a better way, download kickstart nicky romero ✌️lol

[@FireWalkMusic]

Hi there. This was intended to be a beginner tutorial showing the easiest way to get this done by using native plugins only. :) That being said, gross beat does exactly the same as kickstart does, and you have a lot more control too. :)

[@FireWalkMusic]

I usually use lfotool myself. It's like kickstart, but you get more presets and you can adjust the curves exactly the way you want. Have you tried it? If you haven't, you should check it out :)

[@tribootofficial5956]

FireWalk true btw thanks i actually never used gross beat but the video helped me to understand side chain and nice video! I subscribed!

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks! :)